The Portuguese government has announced new measures to support access to finance for the country’s ailing SME base.
The initial credit line made available to businesses is €750 million, but this figure could reach €2 billion by the end of 2010, the Institute of Support to Small and Medium Enterprises and Investment (IAPMEI) said.
The measure will allow access to finance to SMEs that previously had none, the institute said.
According to IAPMEI president Luis Filipe Costa, “equipment leasing and real estate leasing are included in the scheme”.
Of the initial €750 million, €250 million will be specifically directed to micro-sized and small-sized firms.
Antonio Fabrizio
